FARMS FOR FACILITIES MANAGEMENT
Square Mile Farms helps facilities and building managers create healthier, more engaging workplaces through fully managed, interactive indoor Farms. We design and install hydroponic Farms, maintain and harvest them, and run employee events and activities. Our Farms give facilities teams one solution that can support occupier experience, wellbeing, sustainability and community engagement.
How we help facilities managers improve occupier experience?
​
Facilities teams are increasingly expected to support employee experience, wellbeing, sustainability and community alongside the day-to-day operation of the space.
​
An office Farm creates a visible amenity that addresses several of these priorities at once: bringing nature into the workplace, growing fresh food and creating regular opportunities for occupants to participate in harvests and events.
​​
​
How we help facilities managers encourage employees back into the office?
Office Farms create recurring moments within the workplace through harvests, growing activities and events. Rather than functioning simply as planting, they give occupants something to interact with and a reason to gather.
​
Regular harvests can bring colleagues together to learn about the food being grown, take home fresh produce and connect with other people in the building.
​
​See how our Farms have helped a client improve employee engagement
​​​​​
​
How we help facilities managers support workplace wellbeing?
Bringing nature and fresh food into the workplace can make wellbeing part of the physical environment rather than a standalone initiative.
​
Square Mile Farms integrates edible planting into offices and shared spaces, giving occupants everyday access to growing herbs and leafy greens.
​
Workplace farming can also align with features of the WELL Building Standard relating to Nourishment, Nature and Place and Enhanced Access to Nature.
​
Read our article: Can an Office Farm Help You Achieve WELL Certification?
Office Farms make sustainability visible inside the building
Hyperlocal food production
Fresh produce can be grown metres from where it's eaten.
Hydroponic growing
Crops are grown using water-efficient hydroponic
systems.
Employee engagement
Harvests and events give occupants an opportunity to participate.
Social
impact
Produce and Farms support charities and educational activities.
Who looks after a Farm?
Square Mile Farms provides a fully managed 'Farm-as-a service' solution, which means we look after all Farm care after installation, so facilities teams don't need to become urban farmers.
​
Our urban farming team manages planting, crop care, maintenance and regular harvests, while also sharing knowledge with the people using the building.
WHAT WE DO
Farms
​
Hydroponic Farmwalls, Farmstands and bespoke growing installations designed for workplaces and commercial buildings.
.jpg)
Farm experience
​
Harvests give opportunities to interact with the Farm, learn about growing and take home fresh produce.
Farm care
​
Our Urban Farmers manage planting, maintenance and crop care to keep your Farm healthy and productive.
Events​
​
Hands-on activities including workshops, food and nutrition events and team experiences built around the Farm.
Consultancy and design​
​
We work with facilities teams and designers to identify the right Farm and location for a workplace or new development.
How other facilities teams are using Office Farms
Growing ingredients for a workplace restaurant
An investment bank expanded from two Farmstands to eight, creating a reliable source of freshly harvested ingredients without adding Farm maintenance to the facilities team's workload.
​
Sustainability that employees can participate in
​
See how a workplace Farm became part of a company's annual sustainability programme, supported team gatherings and led to two additional installations within 18 months.
How does an Office Farm work?
​
1. We get to know your building and objectives
We discuss your space, occupiers and priorities – from employee experience to sustainability and wellbeing.
​
2. We design the right Farm
We identify the most suitable solution, from a Farmstand or Farmwall to a bespoke installation.
​
3. We install it
Our team coordinates installation and works with relevant project and facilities teams.
​
4. We look after it
Square Mile Farms' Urban Farmers provide ongoing planting, maintenance and crop care.
​
5. Your occupants experience it
Regular harvests, events and activities turn the Farm into an active workplace amenity.
Frequently asked questions about Office Farms for facilities management
How much work does an Office Farm create for a facilities team?
Square Mile Farms provides a fully managed ‘Farms-as-a-Service’ solution, so your Farm is taken care of for you. Our team handles everything from planting and ongoing crop care to maintenance and regular harvests, with no additional workload for your facilities team.
​
Can an Office Farm be installed in an existing office?
Yes. Square Mile Farms offers different Farm formats and bespoke solutions that can be designed around existing workplaces as well as incorporated into new fit-outs.
Where can an Office Farm be installed?
Office Farms can be incorporated into a range of workplace spaces, including communal areas, catering spaces and other suitable locations. The best solution depends on the building and its objectives.
What happens to the food grown?
Produce can be harvested for occupants, used by workplace catering teams or, where appropriate, distributed to charities and community organisations.
Do employees get involved with the Farm?
They can. Regular harvests and events give occupants opportunities to learn about growing, harvest produce and participate in activities around food and sustainability.
Can an Office Farm support WELL certification?
Workplace farming can align with several features within the WELL Building Standard, particularly around Nourishment and access to nature. Individual WELL projects have specific requirements, so certification should be considered with a WELL Accredited Professional. Read our guide to Office Farms and WELL certification